Phosphate recovery first for Thames Water

Photo source: Thames Water

It’s a common theme in the water sector that people are trying to do more with less. Reduce costs, increase efficiency, reduce energy use, recover resources. To succeed a different mindset is needed.

This is about costs. Just looking at phosphate recovery as a way to manufacture fertiliser wont work as it will inevitably have a much higher cost base. Nor will it be economic as a way to reduce the cost of struvite build up on pipework . But combine the two and you have a winning proposition.

This is what is happening at Thames Water ‘s Slough wastewater treatment works where Phosphorus is to be extracted from sewage on a commercial basis for the first time in the UK. The new £2million facility, from Canadian company Ostara, meets several goals. Its estimated it will save £130k to £200k a year in chemical dosing, bring in an income stream from selling the fertiliser produced and help Thames Water meet environmental regulations on nutrient levels in waste water.

To succeed in this area you need to know two markets. The wastewater treatment market and possible cost savings and environmental requirements and the market for the product being produced. It is vital to simultaneously build an outlet and channels to market for the product being produced.